Exhaust Gas Energy Loss Calculator

Exhaust Gas Energy Loss Calculator

Roughly a third of a typical engine's fuel energy leaves as hot exhaust gas rather than useful work - this calculator quantifies exactly how much, using a basic sensible heat balance.

Formula: Q = mass flow rate × specific heat × temperature rise

Example: 0.1 kg/s of exhaust at 1.1 kJ/kgK specific heat with a 500K temperature rise above ambient carries away 55 kW.

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter exhaust mass flow rate in kg/s.
2. Enter exhaust gas specific heat (roughly 1.05-1.15 kJ/kgK for typical combustion exhaust).
3. Enter the exhaust temperature rise above ambient.

This is exactly the energy stream turbocharger and waste-heat-recovery systems are designed to capture rather than simply vent to atmosphere.